Deyemi Okanlawon Speaks Out Against Celebrity Mockery, Urges Empathy

According to reports, Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon has spoken out against the increasing trend of ridiculing celebrities on social media, calling on the public to approach public figures with greater empathy and understanding.

Speaking during a recent appearance on the CreativiTea podcast, the actor lamented the persistent criticism and mockery directed at celebrities, arguing that many people pass judgment without fully understanding the pressures and responsibilities that come with living in the public eye.

Okanlawon noted that fame does not exempt individuals from personal struggles, stressing that celebrities are ordinary people who face emotional and personal challenges despite their public image.

He expressed concern over the tendency of some social media users to make harsh assumptions about public figures, describing the culture as unfortunate and lacking in compassion.

“I see people who have no idea what the challenge is that people in the spotlight are facing. They just come up with a lot of things. It’s sad to see,” he said.

The actor also criticised the growing use of the term “yeyebrities” to describe celebrities, describing it as a dismissive label that undermines the achievements of others.

According to him, constantly belittling another person’s success can become a barrier to one’s own growth and accomplishments.

“People even call celebrities ‘yeyebrities’ because I’m like, whatever you diminish in somebody else’s life, you can never achieve,” he stated.

Okanlawon further cautioned against assuming that fame would never affect one’s own family, pointing out that anyone or their loved ones could one day find themselves in the spotlight and become targets of similar criticism.

He warned that encouraging a culture of ridicule could eventually have personal consequences for those who promote it.

“So, let’s just pray that in your lineage, nobody finds their way into the spotlight, because if that happens, then you’ve opened up the door for such things to be said about them,” he added.

The actor concluded by encouraging members of the public to replace insults with empathy, reminding them that celebrities often deal with unseen personal battles behind the polished images they present online.